I am
grateful to the Almighty God who has granted me the
opportunity to appear before this world Assembly once
again.
I wish to begin by commemorating those who lost
their lives in the horrible flood in Pakistan and
expressing my heartfelt sympathy with the families
who lost their loved ones, as well as with the people
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and the Government of Pakistan. I urge everyone to
assist their fellow men and women as a humane duty.
Let me thank Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, who
presided over the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth
session, for all his efforts during his tenure. I also
congratulate Mr. Joseph Deiss on being elected to
preside over the current session, and wish him every
success.
In past years, I have spoken to the Assembly
about some hopes and concerns; some concerns
involve family crises, the security challenge, disrespect
for human dignity, the deterioration of the world
economy, climate change and disregard for human
aspirations to achieve justice and lasting peace.
After about a hundred years of domination, the
capitalist system and the existing world order have
proved to be unable to provide appropriate solutions to
the problems of societies; thus their demise has come
about. I shall try to examine several causes of this
failure and picture features of an ideal order.
The first cause of failure relates to our attitudes
and beliefs. As the Assembly is well aware, the divine
prophets had the mission to call everyone to
monotheism, love and justice and to show mankind the
path to prosperity. They invite men to contemplation
and to seek knowledge in order to better appreciate the
truth and to refrain from atheism and egoism.
The essence of the message of all prophets is one
and the same. Every messenger endorsed the
messenger before him, and gave glad tidings about the
prophet to come, who presented a more complete
version of the religion in accordance with man’s
capacity at the time. This trend continued until the last
messenger of God, who presented the perfection of an
all-inclusive religion.
In opposition to the call by the prophets, the
egoist and the greedy stood up against their clear call,
revolting against their messages. Nimrod countered
Hazrat Abraham, Pharaoh countered Hazrat Moses, and
the greedy countered Hazrat Jesus Christ and Hazrat
Muhammad — may peace be upon all our prophets.
In recent centuries, human ethics and values have
been rejected as a cause of backwardness. They were
even portrayed as opposing wisdom and science,
because the proclaimers of religion in the dark ages of
the West inflicted man with backwardness. Therefore,
man’s disconnection from heaven has detached him
from his true self.
Man — with his potential to understand the
secrets of the universe, his instinct to seek truth, his
aspirations for justice and perfection, his quest for
beauty and purity, and his capacity to represent God on
Earth — has been reduced to a creature restricted by
the materialistic world with a mission to maximize
individualistic pleasures. Human instinct, then,
replaced true human nature.
Human beings and nations are considered rivals,
and the happiness of an individual or a nation is upheld
at the cost of others, to the point of even eliminating or
suppressing others; rather than developing a
constructive and evolutionary method of cooperation, it
was replaced by a destructive struggle for survival. The
lust for capital and domination replaced monotheism,
which is the gateway to love and unity.
This widespread clash of the egoist with the
divine values gave way to slavery and colonialism. A
large part of the world came under the domination of a
few Western States. Tens of millions of people were
taken into slavery, and tens of millions of families were
shattered as a result. All the resources, the rights and
the cultures of the colonized nations were plundered.
Lands were occupied and the indigenous people were
humiliated and mass-murdered.
Yet, nations rose up, colonialism was alienated,
and the independence of nations was recognized. Thus,
the hope for respect, prosperity and security was
revived among nations. In the beginning of the past
century beautiful motives of freedom, human rights
and democracy created hopes for healing the deep
wounds of the past. Today, however, not only are those
dreams not realized, but memories, even at times more
bitter than before, have been recorded in our history.
As a result of the two World Wars, the occupation
of Palestine, the Korean and Viet Nam wars, the Iraq
war against Iran, the occupation of Afghanistan and
Iraq, as well as many wars in Africa, hundreds of
millions of people were killed, wounded or displaced.
Terrorism, illicit drug production, poverty and social
gaps have increased. The dictatorial and coups d’état
Governments in Latin America committed
unprecedented crimes, with the support of the West.
Instead of disarmament, the proliferation and
stockpiling of nuclear, biological and chemical
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weapons expanded, putting the world under a bigger
threat. As a result, the very same old goals of
colonialists and the slave masters were pursued, but
this time around with a new façade.
The second cause of the failure of the existing
world order and capitalism has to do with the current
global management and its ruling structures. The
League of Nations and then the United Nations were
established with the promise of bringing about peace,
security and the realization of human rights, which in
fact meant a global management.
One can analyse the current system for
governance of world affairs by examining three events.
The first event is that of 11 September 2001,
which has affected the whole world for almost a
decade. We recall that at the time suddenly the news of
an attack on the Twin Towers was broadcast using
numerous footages of the incident. Almost all
Governments and important figures strongly
condemned this incident. But then a propaganda
machine came into full force; it was implied that the
whole world was now exposed to a huge danger —
terrorism — and that the only way to save the world
was to deploy forces into Afghanistan. Eventually
Afghanistan and shortly thereafter Iraq were occupied.
I ask the Assembly please to take note: It was
said that some 3,000 people were killed on
11 September, for which we are all very saddened. Yet
so far in Afghanistan and Iraq hundreds of thousands of
people have been killed, while millions have been
wounded and displaced, and the conflict is still going
on and expanding.
In identifying those responsible for the
11 September attack, there were three viewpoints. The
first was that a very powerful and complex terrorist
group, able to successfully cross all layers of American
intelligence and security, carried out the attack. That is
the prevalent viewpoint advocated by American
statesmen.
The second viewpoint was that some segments
within the United States Government orchestrated the
attack to reverse the declining American economy and
its grip on the Middle East in order also to save the
Zionist regime. The majority of the American people as
well as other nations and politicians around the world
agree with this view.
The third viewpoint was that the attack was
carried out by a terrorist group, but that the American
Government supported and took advantage of the
situation. Apparently, this viewpoint has fewer
proponents.
The main evidence for that viewpoint links the
incident to a few passports found in the huge volume
of rubble and a video of an individual whose place of
domicile was unknown, but it was announced that he
had been involved in oil deals with some American
officials. It was also covered up and said that due to the
explosion and fire no trace of suicide attackers was
found.
Regardless of each of those three viewpoints,
there remain a few questions to be answered.
First, would it not have been sensible that first a
thorough investigation should have been conducted by
independent groups to conclusively identify the
elements involved in the attack and then map out a
rational plan to take measures against them?
Secondly, assuming the viewpoint of the
American Government, is it rational to launch a classic
war through widespread deployment of troops that led
to the death of hundreds of thousands of people to
counter a terrorist group?
Thirdly, was it not possible to act in the way in
which Iran conducted the operations fighting the Riggi
terrorist group, who killed and wounded 400 innocent
people? In the Iranian operation no innocent person
was harmed.
It is proposed that the United Nations set up an
independent fact-finding group in regard to the event
of 11 September to ensure that the different views
about it are not banned from future discussions.
I wish to announce here that next year the Islamic
Republic of Iran will host a conference to study
terrorism and the means to confront it. I invite
officials, scholars, thinkers, researchers and research
institutes of all countries to attend the conference.
The second cause of the demise of the existing
world order is the occupation of the Palestinian
territories. The oppressed people of Palestine have
lived under the rule of an occupying regime for
60 years, and have been deprived of freedom, security
and the right to self-determination, while the occupiers
are given recognition. On a daily basis, houses are
9 10-54833
being destroyed over the heads of innocent women and
children. People are deprived of water, food and
medicine in their own homeland.
The Zionists have imposed five all-out wars on
the neighbouring countries and on the Palestinian
people. The Zionists committed the most horrible
crimes against defenceless people in the wars against
Lebanon and Gaza. The Zionist regime attacked a
humanitarian flotilla in a blatant defiance of all
international norms and killed civilians. This regime,
which enjoys the absolute support of some Western
countries, regularly threatens the countries in the
region and continues publicly to announce the
assassination of Palestinian figures, while Palestinian
defenders and those opposing the regime are pressured,
labelled as terrorists and called anti-Semites. All
values, even the freedom of expression, which seem to
matter so much in Europe and in the United States, and
to be so important, have been sacrificed at the altar of
Zionism.
Solutions are doomed to fail because the right of
the Palestinian people is not taken into account. Would
we have witnessed such horrendous crimes if instead of
the occupation being recognized, the sovereign right of
the Palestinian people had been recognized?
Our unambiguous proposition favours the return
of the Palestinian refugees to their home land and a
vote by the people of Palestine, all Palestinians, to
exercise their sovereignty and decide on their type of
governance.
The third cause of the demise of the existing
order has to do with the outlook on nuclear energy.
Nuclear energy is clean and cheap and a heavenly gift
which is among the most suitable alternatives to cut
pollution emanating from fossil fuels. The
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) allows all States
parties to use nuclear energy without limits, and the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is
mandated to provide such States with technical and
legal support.
The nuclear bomb is the worst inhumane weapon,
and must be totally eliminated. The NPT prohibits its
development and stockpiling, and calls for nuclear
disarmament. Nonetheless, some permanent members
of the Security Council and other nuclear Powers —
those that possess the nuclear bomb — have resorted to
the following measure. They have equated nuclear
energy with the nuclear bomb, and have removed such
energy from the reach of most nations by establishing
monopolies and pressuring IAEA. At the same time,
they have continued to maintain, expand and upgrade
their own nuclear arsenals. The Assembly may have
heard that in the current year the United States
Administration has asked for $80 billion to maintain its
nuclear bombs.
The situation that I have described has entailed
the following: Not only has nuclear disarmament not
been realized, but also nuclear bombs have proliferated
in some regions, including by the occupying and
intimidating Zionist regime. Here I would like to
propose that 2011 be proclaimed the year of nuclear
disarmament and nuclear energy for all, nuclear
weapons for none.
In all the cases to which I have referred, I admit,
the United Nations has been unable to take any
effective, viable course of action. Unfortunately, in the
decade proclaimed as the “International Decade for the
Culture of Peace” hundreds of thousands have been
killed and injured as a result of war, aggression and
occupation, and hostilities and antagonism have
increased.
Very recently the world witnessed an abhorrent
and inhumane act of burning the Holy Koran. The Holy
Koran is the Divine Book and the eternal miracle of the
Prophet of Islam. It calls for worshipping the One God,
justice, compassion towards people, development and
progress, reflection and thought, defence of the
oppressed and resistance against oppressors; and it
names with respect the previous Messengers of God,
such as Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses and
Jesus Christ — may peace be upon all the prophets —
and endorses them. The Koran was burned to burn all
those truths and good judgements.
However, the truth cannot be burned. The Koran
is eternal, because God and truth are everlasting. This
act and any other act that widens the gap and distances
between nations is evil. We should wisely avoid
playing into the hands of Satan. On behalf of the
Iranian nation, I pay respect to all divine books and
their followers. In one hand I hold up the Koran and in
the other the Bible. We pay respect to both books, as
both are dear to us.
For years the inefficiency of capitalism and the
existing world management structures have been
exposed enough for us to understand what they mean.
The majority of States and peoples have begun a quest
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for fundamental changes and to allow justice in global
relations to prevail.
The cause of the United Nations ineptitude is its
unjust structure. Major Powers have monopolized the
Security Council, due to their veto privilege, and
sidelined the General Assembly, which is the main
pillar of the Organization.
In the past several decades, at least one
permanent member of the Security Council has always
been a party to a conflict. When both the judge and the
prosecutor are on the same side of a conflict, how can
one expect justice? They feel immune in aggression
owing to the structure of the United Nations. For
example, if Iran enjoyed the veto privilege, would the
Security Council and the IAEA Director General have
taken the same position on the nuclear issue?
The United Nations is the key centre for
coordinating common global management. Its structure
needs to be reformed in such a manner that all
independent States and nations may participate actively
and constructively in global governance.
The veto privilege should be revoked. The
General Assembly should be the highest body, and the
Secretary-General should be the most independent
official and all his positions and activities should be
taken with the approval of the General Assembly and
should be directed towards promoting justice and
eliminating discrimination in the world order.
The Secretary-General should not come under
pressure from Powers and/or the country hosting the
Organization for stating the truth and administering
justice. It is proposed that the General Assembly
should, within a year and in the framework of an
extraordinary session, finalize the reformation of the
Organization’s structure. The Islamic Republic of Iran
has clear suggestions in this regard and stands ready to
participate actively and constructively in the process.
I announce clearly that the occupation of other
countries under the pretext of freedom and democracy
is an unforgivable crime. The world needs the logic of
compassion and justice and inclusive participation
instead of the logic of force, domination, unilateralism,
war and humiliation. The world needs to be governed
by virtuous people like the Divine Prophets.
The two vast geographical spheres of Africa and
Latin America have experienced historic developments
during past decades, developments that have changed
their face. The new approaches in these two continents,
based on an increasing level of integration and unity, as
well as on localizing the growth and development
models, have borne considerable fruits for the peoples
of those regions. The awareness and wisdom of the
leaders of the two continents have overcome the
regional problems and crises, free of the domineering
interference of non-regional Powers.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has expanded its
relations with Latin America and Africa in all aspects
in recent years.
And now I speak about the glorious Iran. The
Tehran Declaration was a hugely constructive step in
confidence-building efforts, a step made possible
through the admirable good will of the Governments of
Brazil and Turkey, along with the close, sincere and
honest cooperation of the Iranian Government.
Although there was an inappropriate reaction to the
Declaration by some Western Powers, and it was
followed by an unlawful resolution, it is still valid.
We have observed the IAEA regulations beyond
the requirements of our commitments, yet we have
never submitted to illegally imposed pressures, nor will
we ever do so.
It has been said that there is a desire to pressure
Iran into a dialogue. Well, first, Iran has always been
ready for a dialogue based on respect and justice.
Secondly, methods based on disrespecting nations have
long been ineffective. Those who have used
intimidation and sanctions in response to the clear
logic of the Iranian nation are in real terms destroying
the remaining credibility of the Security Council and
the trust of nations in it, proving once again how unjust
is the Council’s function.
When those concerned threaten a great nation, a
great people, such as Iran, which has been known
throughout history for its scientists, poets, artists and
philosophers, and whose culture and civilization are
synonymous with purity, submission to God and
seeking justice, how can they ever expect other nations
to have confidence in them?
It goes without saying that domineering
methods — and mainly capitalism — in managing the
world have failed. Not only has the era of slavery and
colonialism and dominating the world passed, the path
to reviving old Empires is blocked, too.
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We have announced that we stand ready for a
serious and free debate with the American statesmen in
this very venue to express our transparent views on
issues of importance to the world. It is proposed here
that in order to have a constructive dialogue, an annual
free debate be organized within the General Assembly.
In conclusion, the Iranian nation and the majority
of the world’s nations and Governments are opposed to
the current discriminatory management of the world.
The inhumane nature of that management has led it to a
dead end, and it requires a major overhaul.
Reforming the world’s affairs and bringing about
tranquillity and prosperity requires the participation of
all, pure thoughts and the divine and humane
management that we have been given. We are all of the
view that justice is the basic element for peace, durable
security and the spread of love among peoples and
nations. It is in justice that mankind seeks the
realization of his aspirations, rights and dignity, since
he is wary of oppression, humiliation and ill-treatment.
The true nature of mankind is manifested in love
for fellow humans and love for all the good in the
world. Love is the best foundation for establishing
relations among people and among nations. As Vahshi
Bafgi, the great Iranian poet, says, “From the fountain
of youth, drink a thousand sips/You’ll still die if you
don’t have love’s grip”. In making a world full of
purity, safety and prosperity, people are not rivals, but
companions. Those who see their happiness only in the
sorrow of others and their welfare and safety only in
others’ insecurity, those who see themselves as superior
to others, are out of the path of humanity and are in
evil’s course.
Economy and materialistic means are only some
tools to serve others, to create friendship and
strengthen human connections for spiritual perfection.
They are not tools for showing off or means of
dominating others.
Men and women complement each other, and the
family unit, with pure, loving and long-lasting relations
of the spouses, becomes the centre and the guarantee of
the continuity and bringing up of generations, for true
pleasures, for spreading true love and for reforming
society.
Woman is a reflection of God’s beauty and the
source of love and care. She is the guardian of purity
and exquisiteness of society. The tendency to toughen
the souls and behaviours of women deprives them of
their very basic right of being a loving mother and a
caring wife. It will result in a more violent society with
irreversible defects.
Freedom is a divine right that should serve peace
and human perfection. Pure thoughts and the will of
the righteous are keys to the gates of a pure life full of
hope, liveliness and beauty. This is the promise of
God — that the Earth will be inherited by the pure and
the righteous. And the people free from selfishness will
take up the management of the world. Then there will
be no trace of sorrow, discrimination, poverty,
insecurity and aggression. The time for true happiness
and the blossoming of the true nature of humankind,
the way God has intended, will arrive.
All those seeking justice and all the free spirits
have been waiting for this moment and have been
promised such a glorious time. The complete human,
the true servant of God and the true friend of mankind,
whose father was from the generation of the beloved
Prophet of Islam and whose mother was from the true
believers of Jesus Christ, shall wait along with Jesus,
the son of Mary, and the other righteous to appear on
those brilliant days and assist humanity. In welcoming
them, we should join ranks and seek justice, as would
be befitting of man.
Praise to love and worship, praise to justice and
freedom, praise to true humanity, the complete human,
the true companion of humankind. I say to all those
listening: “Peace be upon you and all the righteous and
the pure.”